09.02.12
Ex-servicemen receive photography training course
Ex-servicemen are to receive a one day photography training course arranged by Event-Photos in conjunction with Veterans in Action (VIA).
The training day, which is to be held on February 26 at Banbury Motocross Club, will be themed around outdoor event photography and will include practices such as set up and break-down so that they can take away and use a range of photography skills as part of their rehabilitation.
Canon, Mitsubishi, Darkroom Software and System Ignite are amongst the companies to donate goods to the training day and VIA charity.
Veterans In Action is a charity dedicated to ex-servicemen helping other ex-servicemen with a whole host of issues that arise after leaving the forces and help get them back in to society and the work-place.
The ethical principles underpinning the work of the VIA are the notions of respect for self and others, preservation of dignity through examples of appropriate behaviour and through communicating confidence and trust in each of its members. Being part of a community is central to the human experience thus we seek to enrich the lives of veterans through the familiar themes of affiliation, service and striving to create a sense of cohesion between the individual, organisation and broader society.
Ian Griffiths from Event-Photos said: “I was originally approached by the VIA last year. After talking with the guys for a while and then understanding what they were truly about with getting these guys back in to the workplace, it was agreed that whilst a donation would be good, a day that would teach those interested in perhaps pursuing a career in photography would be far more beneficial and long lasting and give the VIA a program they can recreate. So the idea of an action and information packed training day for the guys was born.”
Ian added: “A comment made by one of the guys keeps ringing in my head, ‘Not all the scars are on the outside,’ PTSD can be as debilitating as an amputation and I was moved to do something more positive. These guys are action orientated and so we decided a day at a motocross race would not only be exciting for the guys to experience, but one they can learn photo skills that if they choose to go down the event photography route can be valuable to them. These guys don’t need wet nursing, they are after all highly trained, professional servicemen, all they need is showing there is potential in the photography business and a helping hand to get going.”
After initial planning, a number of companies jumped on board to help out with the day and future activities. Canon cameras are providing a range of camera equipment, lenses and other accessories for the delegates to use on the day. Darkroom Software have provided a copy of their Darkroom Core V9.1 software, while System Insight, the UK’s distributor of Darkroom have committed to provide a one day Darkroom training session for the 10 VIA delegates as well as a selection of mounts and other consumables. In addition to this, Mitsubishi have donated one of their printers to the VIA to be used for training and fundraising projects, Mike Weeks of the EPS has donated over £400 worth of free memberships to be gifted to the delegates and John Malone, an Event-Photos team leader, has donated four refurbished laptops, formatted and ready to be used by the VIA.
Other options are being discussed with potential donors that include backdrops, stands and perhaps even a studio lighting kit that will provide a full set of working kit for the VIA to use for this and other photography related training projects as well as fundraising events.
Gary Evans of Ball Photographers has offered his time on the training day to talk to the ex-servicemen about different options within photography such as weddings, balls, proms and staging photography such as regimental and educational groups.
“In addition to the very generous donations of the above companies, the ability to access information from seasoned professionals is invaluable and I’m stunned at the support I’ve had from within the Event-Photos network of event teams, some ex-servicemen, some not, so far eight are bringing equipment, event vehicles and giving up their time to support me in facilitating this day and acting as ‘buddies’ for the day to teach photographic skills, techniques etc to the VIA guys. I have to say I’ve been overwhelmed by their generosity,” said Ian.
More information about VIA can be found at their web site www.v-i-a.org.uk
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